A judge has named the star's mother Katherine as temporary guardian of Michael Jackson's three children. -- PHOTO: AP
LOS ANGELES - MICHAEL Jackson's family won temporary custody of the star's children and applied for control of his estate on Monday as the first shots were fired in the legal fight arising from the icon's death.
DETAILS from Friday's preliminary examination of Jackson's body were published in Britain's The Sun newspaper on Monday after the daily said it had seen a copy of the autopsy report.
According to the paper, pathologists found Jackson's stomach empty apart from partially-dissolved pills. Jackson's body was also reported to have weighed only 50.8kg at the time of his death.
LOS ANGELES - A JUDGE on Monday named Michael Jackson's mother to be the temporary guardian of his estate, which includes the Neverland ranch and rights to songs by The Beatles.
Mitchell Beckloff, a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court, said that Katherine Jackson, 79, would control Jackson's estate until a hearing on July 6 to make a more formal decision.
A day after a family lawyer said the clan would seek custody of the singer's three children, a judge named the star's mother Katherine as temporary guardian after approving a petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
In a separate filing, the family lodged a second petition seeking the right for Katherine to be named temporary administrator of their son's estate.
News of the legal offensive emerged as the Jackson family met activist Reverend Al Sharpton to disuss plans for a memorial to Jackson.
The star's father, Joe Jackson, applauded the court decision to make his wife Katherine the temporary guardian of their grandchildren, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7.
'This is where they belong,' Mr Jackson said. 'We're going to take care of them and give them the education they're supposed to have.' Reports have said Jackson's family is considering a series of simultaneous memorial services around the world for the singer, reflecting the huge global reach of an artist who sold more than 750 million records.
'It is the determination of the family to be careful and deliberate on how they plan his celebration of life, because we're talking about a historic figure that really changed pop culture around the world,' Rev Sharpton said.
'This is not something you do carelessly and spontaneously. We must remember they are still grieving and in their grief, determined to uphold his legacy.'
Family members attended an awards show Sunday dedicated to African-American entertainers which became a star-studded celebration of Jackson's life, featuring an emotional tribute from his sister Janet.
'My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful so they elected me to speak with all of you,' Janet Jackson said.
'I'd just like to say that, to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts.' The Jackson family already has hired a private pathologist who has carried out a second autopsy on the family. -- AFP
